Why you Should Chew Neem Leaves on an Empty Stomach: Top Health Benefits
Verified By
KIMS-SUNSHINE
Specialist,
16 February, 2025
Neem is an indigenous tree found in India and other parts of Asia. Neem has been used as a medicine for centuries- the most common ones being skincare, oral care, for oils, creams and tinctures and even taken orally in a few instances. All parts of the neem plant can be used – the bark, the roots, the flowers and the leaves obviously. Neem trees are amazing air purifiers and have excellent antipathogenic properties. Let us learn more about what neem extract can do – with respect to health and disease management.
Health Benefits of Chewing Neem Leaves in the Morning
Neem leaves or neem extract is very good for you in general, as it is rich in antioxidants and helps reduce chronic inflammation. This means you can manage many related medical conditions with regular consumption. Since your stomach is empty of food by the morning and must have finished digesting dinner way before dawn, it makes perfect sense to consume some neem leaves first thing in the morning. Not water or lemon juice, but this bitter leaf or its extract. Let us look at some very well known advantages below-
- Neem extract includes many bioactives like azadirachtin, salannin, nimbin, nimbidin, nimbolide, gedunin, etc. – all of which have potent anti-microbial properties that work against fungi, bacteria and viruses. This means you will have better immunity with regular consumption of neem leaves.
- Neem is also rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds- like Vitamin C. This has a protective function on cells in the body.
- Neem is good for your skin and hair, both. It helps prevent bacterial or fungal issues like dandruff and other problems like acne or common skin allergies. It helps soothe skin too. It mainly helps in reducing oil production by the sebaceous glands- which can mix with dirt and other impurities to form zits. It is also good for insect bites you may have to deal with. It is especially good for your scalp as it gets rid of malassezia- the fungus that causes greasy hair and itchy scalp. It is also good for hair growth. Neem extract has very good blood purifying properties too- which means it is good for skin and hair in general.
- It is an amazing addition to your oral care routine- in the form of neem containing toothpastes, mouthwashes and by chewing leaves directly. This is because it can help keep tartar and bad breath away, while also leaving your teeth cavity free.
- Neem leaves have long been used for diabetes management and blood sugar control as they are rich in flavonoids and glycosides- both of which can help with blood glucose control. These leaves also have compounds which help beta cells of the pancreas perform better. The nimbinin found in neem is majorly responsible for this effect.
- Neem extract has been used to cure malaria for centuries- as it is good for your immune system and helps reduce the degree of infection by the parasite.
- The anti pathogenic properties work against worms or parasites too. Neem can be used to treat ringworm or tapeworm or other helminthic infestations.
- Having neem first thing in the morning can help the stomach reduce inflammation, while also reducing the amounts of stomach acid being produced. This means you won’t suffer from heartburn or acidity as much as before.
- Since it is good for your gut, it is safe to consume after a meal. But be warned- the decoction is very bitter and sweetening it with some honey is a better way to consume it.
- Neem leaves have long been used as an effective birth control measure, so if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is better you stay away from it.
- Lastly, neem leaves could help with weight loss and better metabolism as they are rich in antioxidants and prevent excessive lipid deposition, though we are not sure what those mechanisms or specific cellular pathways are.
Conclusion
Neem is an all rounder, arboreal ‘blessing’ of sorts as each part of the tree can be used. It contains hundreds of bioactive compounds- many of which are antipathogenic and anti-inflammatory in nature. Neem can help improve liver function too because of its innate antioxidant property. But the jury is still out on whether this leaf is good for autoimmune disorders. Plus, you shouldn’t have too much of neem extract either- less than 4 leaves per day is a good and safe bet. Too much can damage your kidneys in the long run. If you are going to take a capsule, then talk to your doctor about safe and permissible dosages.
